Vision Expo 2026 wrapped its milestone 40th anniversary edition in Orlando, Florida, with strong attendance, expanded education programming, and a renewed focus on business, innovation, and industry connection.
Held March 11–14 at the Orange County Convention Center, the event marked the debut of a single annual Vision Expo format. Co-owned by RX and The Vision Council, the show welcomed more than 8,000 industry professionals from 92 countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Organizers said the event delivered more than 220 hours of accredited education, with conference attendance up 17% year over year. Participation in the Platinum Club program for multimillion-dollar practices and retailers also grew to more than 700 participants.
The 115,000-square-foot show floor featured more than 350 exhibitors, along with product launches, technology showcases, fashion presentations, and networking events. New features included the NOW Stage, the Innovation Center, and a 40th anniversary installation highlighting the event’s history and community.
“Vision Expo is unique because it is the only event that brings the full spectrum of the optical industry together,” said Ashley Mills, CEO of The Vision Council.
Attendee Dr. Sophia Visanji described the event as “quite possibly the most efficient way” to explore the latest eyewear, keep up with new technology, and network with industry peers.
Myopia management has become an essential part of modern pediatric eye care. For many practices, the challenge is no longer why it matters, but how to integrate it into everyday clinical workflows. This article outlines a practical, structured approach to getting started with confidence.
Why Myopia Management Matters
Myopia is increasing at a pace that most practices could not have imagined a decade ago. Parents are more informed, research continues to strengthen the evidence for intervention, and clinicians are seeing younger patients progress more quickly. For many eye care professionals, the challenge is not understanding why myopia management matters. It is knowing how and when to begin.
The current consensus has shifted away from waiting for moderate or high myopia. Early education of families, consideration of intervention in at-risk pre-myopes, and timely treatment for any child demonstrating progression are now considered best practice. Importantly, starting a myopia management program does not require a complete overhaul of your clinic. It requires a structured approach, a few essential tools, and clear communication with families and staff.
Start With the Fundamentals
Before offering intervention, it is essential to ground both clinicians and staff in the fundamentals: why myopia progresses, which treatments are evidence-based, and what success realistically looks like. Managing expectations early helps avoid common misconceptions, such as assuming rapid correction rather than slowed progression.
Evidence-based options include night wear contact lenses (orthokeratology), daily wear contact lenses (soft multifocal is the most common), low-dose atropine, and myopia control spectacle lenses. Lifestyle and environmental modifications are also paramount for success.
There is no minimum age requirement for starting therapy; decisions should be guided by refractive status and risk factors. Younger age of onset, parental myopia, ethnicity, reduced outdoor time, and early loss of expected hyperopia all increase risk. Starting with one or two modalities you already feel comfortable prescribing allows confidence to build before expanding services.
Evaluate Your Practice Readiness
Most primary care practices already have the foundation required to begin myopia management. Retinoscopy, keratometry, or corneal topography, and a structured refractive history provide a strong baseline. Axial length measurement is a valuable addition as programs mature, but it is not mandatory at the outset.
Equally important is workflow readiness. Decide how myopia consultations will be scheduled, how follow-ups will be structured, and how chair time will be allocated. Identifying a consistent process early reduces stress for the clinician and creates a predictable experience for families.
Create a Clear Clinical Workflow
A repeatable workflow makes myopia care more efficient and scalable. Begin with a comprehensive baseline assessment, including refractive history, family history, binocular vision status, and corneal shape if contact lens-based therapies are being considered.
Follow-up schedules should be modality-specific but consistent. Map out visits for the first year, determine which clinical data will be collected, and clarify staff roles for pre-testing, education, and follow-up communication. A clear structure simplifies scheduling and helps parents understand the long-term nature of care from the outset.
Communicate Confidently with Caregivers and Patients
Clear communication is often the deciding factor in whether families move forward. Conversations should focus on long-term eye health rather than short-term prescription changes. Parents value understanding what treatment aims to achieve, what it cannot guarantee, and how lifestyle factors such as outdoor time and near-work habits influence outcomes.
It is also important to address quality of life. While clinical success has traditionally been measured by refractive and biometric outcomes, patient and caregiver experience matters. Monitoring comfort, visual function, and overall satisfaction ensures that management strategies remain sustainable and positive for the child.
Transparent discussion of fees improves trust. Many practices adopt bundled program fees to simplify financial conversations and clearly outline what is included in ongoing care.
Build and Empower Your Team
A successful myopia management program depends heavily on staff engagement. Front-line team members often introduce the concept, answer early questions, and reinforce messaging. Training staff in basic myopia theory, common terminology, and the purpose of specialized testing improves confidence and consistency.
In larger clinics, designating myopia coordinators to manage referrals, training visits, and follow-ups can greatly improve efficiency. Technical competency is essential as high-quality data collection underpins successful outcomes. Providing staff with simple scripts and knowing when to escalate questions to the clinician helps maintain trust and clarity for families.
Start Small, Then Expand
Launching a program with a small number of well-selected patients allows workflows to be refined and confidence to grow. Early successes help identify areas for improvement and build momentum across the team. As experience increases, practices can add modalities, introduce axial length monitoring, or develop enhanced educational tools.
Measure What Matters; and Know When to Adjust
Tracking outcomes is central to effective care. Refractive changes, corneal data, and axial length trends (where available) provide objective insight into progression. These metrics also guide decisions about continuing, modifying, or eventually tapering therapy.
Cessation of myopia management should be progression-based rather than age-based. While many patients slow between late adolescence and early adulthood, ongoing optical correction is still required, and some modalities, particularly orthokeratology, may continue to provide functional and lifestyle benefits beyond active progression years.
Taking the First Step
Myopia management is both an opportunity and a responsibility. With a structured approach, practical tools, and a team that shares the vision, starting a program is more achievable than many clinicians expect. Most importantly, early intervention can have a lasting impact on the long-term eye health of your pediatric patients. For practices looking to get started, the first step is simply committing to begin. The rest builds naturally with experience, communication, and consistent follow-up.
About the Author:
Dr. Sheila Morrison, OD, MS, FAAO, FSLS, FCCSO
Dr. Sheila Morrison is an Alberta-based optometrist, educator, and clinical researcher specializing in cornea, contact lenses, myopia management, and dry eye. A former clinical university professor, she practices at Mission Eye Care in Calgary, Alberta, and supervises an accredited cornea and contact lens residency. She lectures, publishes internationally, and collaborates in clinical research.
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CUSTOMEYES, the luxury eyewear customization platform created by MIO Group (Manifattura Italiana Occhiali), is set to launch in Canada with the opening of the world’s first Atelier Customeyes at Eyes On Sheppard in Toronto on April 10, 2026.
According to the company, CUSTOMEYES is the first luxury eyewear brand built around painted acetate as a defining product signature. Each frame is made from premium Japanese acetate and hand-painted by Italian artisans, with the brand positioning the process as a way to bring added depth, colour nuance, and finish to the final product.
The collection also incorporates custom CNC-milled hinges machined from solid metal, exclusive internal cores, and a proprietary finishing library that allows for more than one million possible combinations of finishes, treatments, and aesthetic configurations.
In a statement, Giovanni Accongiagioco, founder of MIO Group, said CUSTOMEYES was created to bring a luxury concept to eyewear by turning the purchase process into a creative experience without compromising craftsmanship or precision. He added that Eyes On Sheppard was a natural fit for the first Atelier, citing its expertise, product culture, and customer care.
Dr. Kerry Salsberg, owner of Eyes On Sheppard, said the concept aligns with what many clients are seeking in the premium category: authentic luxury, strong materials, attention to detail, and a more personal result. He noted that the hand-painted Italian craftsmanship helps elevate customization into something tangible and distinctive.
The Atelier Customeyes will officially open on April 10, 2026, at Eyes On Sheppard, located at 90 Sheppard Avenue East in Toronto.
EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana announced the extension of the current license agreement through 2050 for the development, production and worldwide distribution of prescription frames and sunglasses under the Dolce&Gabbana brand.
“We are very proud of this new agreement, which will allow us to continue supporting Dolce&Gabbana, one of the world’s most iconic brands, on what we see as an ideally endless journey. We feel deeply connected to the fashion house, as it represents a unique expression of style, art and culture. With a twenty-five-year horizon, the collaboration further reflects the evolution of our partnership model, increasingly oriented toward the long term, enabling deep integration of values, strategic vision and product culture and, ultimately, fostering meaningful and enduring progress over time”, commented Francesco Milleri, Chairman and CEO at EssilorLuxottica.
“Since 2004, EssilorLuxottica and Dolce&Gabbana have carried forward a solid partnership, capable of combining strong business results, creative vision, and the development of a shared project. The strengthening of the long-term partnership we are signing confirms mutual confidence in the future and in the opportunities that both companies will be able to seize by continuing to work together in the years ahead. EssilorLuxottica stands out for its unique know-how in eyewear manufacturing, the high quality and global reach of its retail and distribution network, as well as its constant focus on technological innovation. Dolce&Gabbana is proud to further strengthen this partnership,” said Alfonso Dolce, Chief Executive Officer of Dolce&Gabbana.
SightGlass Vision has announced two appointments within its medical and professional affairs teams as the company continues to expand support for eyecare professionals in myopia control.
David Webley has joined as Senior Director, Clinical, Medical and Professional Affairs, while Fabio Carta has taken on the newly created role of Director, Professional Affairs. According to the company, both appointments are intended to strengthen relationships with the global eyecare community and expand support and education around DOT™ myopia control spectacle lenses.
David WebleyFabio Carta
SightGlass Vision says DOT lenses are designed to correct vision while slowing myopia progression through contrast management. The technology uses thousands of light-scattering elements to soften contrast before it reaches the retina, with the goal of mimicking more natural contrast signals.
The company also points to research showing that DOT lenses can slow myopia progression by up to 75% after 12 months of wear across diverse patient populations.
In a statement, Webley said the efficacy and safety of DOT lenses have already been clearly demonstrated, and that the next step is to raise awareness of contrast management and help more eyecare professionals understand how the lenses work.
Before joining SightGlass Vision, Webley earned a BSc in Optometry from Aston University and spent more than a decade in primary care practice. He later held education, development, professional affairs, and marketing roles with Vision Express in the U.K. and CooperVision in Europe. He has also served as chair of the British Contact Lens Association (BCLA) council since 2023.
Carta brings more than 25 years of professional experience and has held consulting or professional affairs roles with Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Bausch + Lomb Italy, CooperVision, and Menicon Holdings B.V. Europe. His work has increasingly focused on myopia management.
According to Carta, DOT lenses are straightforward for eyecare professionals to prescribe and easy for children to wear, making them a practical option for practices expanding into myopia management.
SightGlass Vision said its DOT lenses have already launched commercially in China, Canada, Israel, Spain, and the U.K., with more than 1.5 million children having worn the lenses to date.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
Episode 10 of Eye on the Industry features Dr. Harbir Sian on scope modernization, social media, myopia management, clinic culture, and the future of optometry in Canada.
EssilorLuxottica has acquired a stake in Top Charoen, Thailand’s largest retail optical chain, reinforcing its long-standing relationship with the company and its presence in Southeast Asia.
By any measure, contact lenses remain a cornerstone of modern vision correction. Yet despite ongoing innovation and a steadily expanding global market, the overall number of contact lens wearers has not grown at the same pace as the technology.
